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Hospital downgrading fears intensify

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

FEARS for the long-term future of key services at Roscommon County Hospital including Accident & Emergency, Coronary Care, Stroke and other acute services have intensified following a key meeting between the HSE and local politicans.
While the HSE confirmed at the meeting there were no plans to close the hospital, it appears services are on course to alter significantly and that further hospital budget cuts of €1.8m must be made by the end of 2010.
The lengthy meeting took place last Thursday at the hospital between between local public representatives, John Hennessy, Regional Director of Operations for HSE West and Dr. David O' Keeffe, the new 'super manager' for Roscommon, Portiuncula and University College Hospital Galway.
Mr Hennessy told the meeting that the ambulance service and sterilisation units at the county hospital will be upgraded within the year. During the presentation, recent developments at the hospital were highlighted by the HSE including a new diabetes and Endocrinology service, respiratory service and the proposed new rheumatology service and outlined plans to partake in the National Cancer Screening Service.
However, Mr Hennessey said other services at the hospital would be reconfigured over the next two years with an extra focus on day care services. "Roscommon County hospital will not be closed," he said. "But it will not be as it is today."
Responding to concerns of local councillors, Mr Hennessey said he could not confirm that A&E services would be retained, however he did say there would be no changes made to A&E until the ambulance service at the hospital was upgraded. Likewise he said no changes would be made to surgical services over the next six months but could not confirm their longevity at the hospital. Mr Hennessey said the HSE were looking at 18 months to two and a half years for the reconfiguration and transfer of services.
However, a number of local politicans believe that proposals for a new advanced paramedic ambulance service would not only spell the death-knell for A & E services at the hospital but could also cost lives.
Cllr. John Kelly firmly rejected plans for a new advanced paramedic ambulance service for coronary care patients in Roscommon which he believes would by-pass the county hospital and Portiuncula Hospital, with patients instead being transferred to University College Hospital, Galway for treatment.
He said the journey times along bad roads would make it impossible for such coronary care patients to receive optimum treatment. "I've no doubt that patients will die on the way to Galway because the journey times will be so long and over bad roads," he said.
Mayor Luke Flanagan echoed the sentiments: " A heart attack patient from Elphin would take at best two hours to reach UCHG. In rush hour this can be anything up to four hours. In other words there is a massive chance that these patients will not arrive in Galway alive.
Cllr Orla Leyden believed the best way of guaranteeing patient safety was by ensuring that patients have continued access to essential services at Roscommon County Hospital including it's vital 24/7 A&E unit.
Meanwhile, the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee has said it will meet next week to discuss its next course of action in the campaign to restore services at the County Hospital.
FEARS for the long-term future of key services at Roscommon County Hospital including Accident & Emergency, Coronary Care, Stroke and other acute services have intensified following a key meeting between the HSE and local politicans.
While the HSE confirmed at the meeting there were no plans to close the hospital, it appears services are on course to alter significantly and that further hospital budget cuts of €1.8m must be made by the end of 2010.
The lengthy meeting took place last Thursday at the hospital between between local public representatives, John Hennessy, Regional Director of Operations for HSE West and Dr. David O' Keeffe, the new 'super manager' for Roscommon, Portiuncula and University College Hospital Galway.
Mr Hennessy told the meeting that the ambulance service and sterilisation units at the county hospital will be upgraded within the year. During the presentation, recent developments at the hospital were highlighted by the HSE including a new diabetes and Endocrinology service, respiratory service and the proposed new rheumatology service and outlined plans to partake in the National Cancer Screening Service.
However, Mr Hennessey said other services at the hospital would be reconfigured over the next two years with an extra focus on day care services. "Roscommon County hospital will not be closed," he said. "But it will not be as it is today."
Responding to concerns of local councillors, Mr Hennessey said he could not confirm that A&E services would be retained, however he did say there would be no changes made to A&E until the ambulance service at the hospital was upgraded. Likewise he said no changes would be made to surgical services over the next six months but could not confirm their longevity at the hospital. Mr Hennessey said the HSE were looking at 18 months to two and a half years for the reconfiguration and transfer of services.
However, a number of local politicans believe that proposals for a new advanced paramedic ambulance service would not only spell the death-knell for A & E services at the hospital but could also cost lives.
Cllr. John Kelly firmly rejected plans for a new advanced paramedic ambulance service for coronary care patients in Roscommon which he believes would by-pass the county hospital and Portiuncula Hospital, with patients instead being transferred to University College Hospital, Galway for treatment.
He said the journey times along bad roads would make it impossible for such coronary care patients to receive optimum treatment. "I've no doubt that patients will die on the way to Galway because the journey times will be so long and over bad roads," he said.
Mayor Luke Flanagan echoed the sentiments: "A heart attack patient from Elphin would take at best two hours to reach UCHG. In rush hour this can be anything up to four hours. In other words there is a massive chance that these patients will not arrive in Galway alive.
Cllr Orla Leyden believed the best way of guaranteeing patient safety was by ensuring that patients have continued access to essential services at Roscommon County Hospital including it's vital 24/7 A&E unit.
Meanwhile, the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee has said it will meet next week to discuss its next course of action in the campaign to restore services at the County Hospital.
The HAC said that the Director of Operations for the HSE West John Hennessey stated that no services would be reduced at the facility for the next six months however a question mark still hangs over the long term future of A&E, Coronary Care, Stroke and other acute services.
It's understood the HSE plans on moving a number of these services to Galway University Hospital however it says no plan is in place for this process at the moment.
The HSE says when it has a draft plan in place it will then consult with all stakeholders involved to discuss this further. The Hospital Action Committee said it would meet next week after which it's understood a public meeting on the issue may be held.
Following the meeting Deputy Denis Naughten said that in his opinion the proposed plans were a downgrade of services. In addition Deputy Naughten said Mr Hennessey told management at the hospital that it must make up €1.8m by the end of the year which ultimately means closures. "We asked him if that included ward closures or loss of staff and he said yes.
"The budget was €23.653m and that was cut to €19.853m and now included on top of that is a €1.8m overspend so the budget has gone from €23m to €18m in 12 months, they've cut 20% off the budget." Deputy Naughten said it was impossible for Roscommon hospital to operate services after a 20% cut in budget.
"The impression I get is major cutbacks including ward closures.
“He made no commitment to A&E or surgical retention, he is doing the same as he did to Nenagh and Ennis hospitals which is making Roscommon a day care hospital like St Joseph's in Longford."
Over 40 public representatives attended the meeting with Director of operations John Hennessey, UCH, Galway Supermanager, Dr David O'Keeffe and chaired by Roscommon Hospital manager, Elaine Prendergast. Independent councillor Tony Ward said he was satisfied that there would be no changes to the hospital and that he was happy with the commitment given by Mr Hennessey.
"He told us there would be no downgrade of services. He said every hospital must be licensed by 2013 and must be up to a certain standard by that point.
“He said no changes would be made without talks with local public representatives. in relation to procedures he said that certain surgical procedures may be carried out in Roscommon hospital that are clogging up the system in Galway."
Another meeting with political and community representatives is set to take place when the Health Service Executive have completed a draft plan. The draft plan will outline how the Health Service Executive envisage providing acute services to the people in the catchment area of Roscommon County Hospital.

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